OPPOSITION OF THE PLANET MARS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 166, 13 July 1907, Page 5

OPPOSITION OF THE PLANET MARS.

Mr. J. T. Stevenson, FXLS., writes : "On the night of July 7th the planet Mars was in opposition, or in a straight line, with the earth and sun, and tonight the nearest approach between our earth and the planet will take place. The distance separating both planets being some 38 millions of miles. The present is a good opportunity for viewing the planet, as the dark oceans are plainly visible, as well as the bright polar snow cap. The nearest approach the planet can make to our earth ia some 34 millions of miles, so that the present opportunity is a good one to learn something more of the physical features of this brilliant red planet, and to observe the mysterious canals which traverse the planet's disc, but only the largest telescopes will show these canals. The planet now rises about sunset, and may be observed as a brilliant red star in the east south-east sky. The presen* /weather indi<«Uions are—generally unsettled -weather, -with heavy showers between west and south-west, with very little improvement for at least 12 hours.